Carolina Living Real Estate’s Sarah Drummond Recognized For Internet Marketing Excellence

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Carolina Living Real Estate

Gastonia, North Carolina, October 20th, 2010 — REALTOR.com® National Speaker, Joe Sesso, has presented to Sarah Drummond of Carolina Living Real Estate the “Real Estate Online Marketing Award of Excellence”. The Award of Excellence recognizes top agents who consistently provide great marketing services on behalf of their buyers and sellers.

“There are always some real estate agents who distinguish themselves from other agents by doing a little more for their sellers. In particular; when the home they are selling is placed on a well trafficked site such as the 1st ranked REALTOR.com®,1 even simple efforts like having more photos displayed, crafting better descriptions or adding a full motion video, can make a home stand out from competing properties,” says Mr. Sesso.

The excellence award was presented to Sarah Drummond at a recent real estate marketing and technology seminar that demonstrated cutting edge techniques for leveraging the internet and technology in real estate marketing.

Sarah Drummond says, “My seller clients appreciate how I can help bring more attention to the unique selling attributes of their home and ultimately help attract more qualified buyers. Sellers who have worked with me can attest to the fact that home photography is one of the aspects of my job I take most seriously—and have the most fun with at the same time! I love making each listing look amazing online and in all my marketing pieces. Sellers like the fact that REALTOR.com offers a feature that allows them to monitor how many views their listing is getting on the website. I think buyers are also appreciative of a well-presented home and a website that offers a better description and more ways to learn about the property online before arranging an appointment. While it’s certainly an honor to receive this award, I think ultimately it would be a disservice not to make REALTOR.com® and the internet part of my standard home marketing plan. I market my listings heavily on several major real estate websites (and even YouTube); and REALTOR.com is certainly one of my favorite avenues for online advertising.”

“The extra steps agents like Sarah Drummond are taking on behalf of their clients is the reason we thought it worthwhile to call out the effort we have seen these agents make online and to recognize them for providing these added value services,” says Mr. Sesso.

REALTOR.com® is just one of the many ways Sarah Drummond is leveraging recent trends in home buyer online behavior to her clients’ benefit. Home sellers interested in finding out how to have their home marketed on REALTOR.com® should contact Sarah at 704-604-8849 or email sarahdrummond.realtor@gmail.com.

Tax Credits For Your Charlotte Area Home

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Tax Credits for Adding or Replacing Insulation

According to  Gil Rudawsky at House Logic a very informative site created by Realtor.com!

A federal tax credit makes adding insulation an even cheaper way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and cut your heating and cooling bills.

f putting a dent in your home’s heating and cooling bills is a priority, then adding insulation needs to be at the top of your to-do list. It’s a relatively affordable home-improvement project, and the savings can be felt almost immediately. Some DIYers can even tackle the project themselves over a weekend.

For a 2,200 square foot home, adding insulation to an attic can cost from $1,000 to $2,500 including labor, depending on how much you put in and how easy it is to install. Effort and expense go up when you add insulation to exterior walls or around hard-to-reach ductwork. A federal energy tax credit worth up to $1,500 can help defray the cost.

Read more

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Thinking Lease Purchase in the Charlotte Area? Think Again

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Why do we say Think Again? Lets examine things closely.

Buyers run a significant risk of entering into a Lease Purchase – How?:

  • The Seller could take your rent payments and not make a single mortgage payment and the property could go into foreclosure. (Yes, this has happened)
  • The Seller may not keep up with the property. (from repairs, to taxes and you name it)
  • Any improvements the Buyers only benefit of the Seller, unless the Buyers actually close on the property.
  • As they say, “life can get in the way” and one of the parties to the contract may not be able to perform.

Having said that, Buyers are  more and more questioning the availability of this scenario because of the status of our economy.

Here are some seller risks you should be aware of:

The Buyers don’t have acceptable credit to buy today and hope that in the near future their credit will be better and they can qualify for a loan. Risk: How far off is the buyers’ credit from credit-worthy? Depending on the buyers’ situation, the buyer may not be able to cure their credit in time to buy the home. Then, the buyers cannot buy the house and the seller will have to clean up the house and prepare it for sale.

The Buyers have a home to sell. Risk: The buyers still haven’t sold their home at the end of the lease. If the buyers love the home and want to buy it, the best option is to reduce the list price on their current home and get it sold. Then, buy the new home.

The Buyers want to test out the neighborhood/house/city/etc. Risk: The Buyers are not committed to the new home. Even though they have entered into a binding purchase agreement, many Buyers think the Lease Purchase agreement is a Lease Option.

The Buyers think that some of their Lease payment will go toward the Purchase Price of the home. Risk: Though some Lease Purchases have a buy down provision, this is not true in most of the Lease Purchases that I have reviewed.

  • If you feel you your only option is to enter into a Lease Purchase, please take heed of the  following precautions:
  • An attorney must create the Lease Purchase documentation. Our standard Realtor forms do not cover all the items that need to be addressed.
  • Spell out very clearly what both parties expect at the end of the Lease Purchase.
  • Use non-refundable earnest money to ensure that the intent is understood and the Seller is compensated if the Lease Purchase does not come to a close.  Also, I believe the attorney should hold the monies AND collect the rents and pay the mortgage.  Too often we have heard of the seller keeping the funds and no making payments.  The home is foreclosed on and the buyer is out his/her money!

The Buyers should do their due diligence before they move in:

  1. Do an Inspection and Negotiate the Repairs. Determine in writing who will be responsible for repairs during the lease term.
  2. Examine the Title.
  3. Get an appraisal.
  4. Have the Seller buy a Home Warranty.
  5. Sellers should keep the home fully insured. Buyer should insure their contents.
  6. Neither Buyer nor Seller should make changes to the house during the lease term, unless negotiated by all parties.

Consider, Buyers and Sellers may simply consider signing a Lease with an Option to Purchase giving the buyer right of first refusal to buy the property at the end of the Lease.  However, the buyer would not be obligated to buy the home.

Be sure to get an attorney involved to create the language necessary to protect both buyers and sellers with any options involving a Lease Purchase.

Earn A Tax Credit and Save Money On Your Charlotte Area Home

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Are you looking for ways to save money, go green and get a tax credit all at once.  Well House Logic created by the National Association of Realtors has the website and articles for you.

According to Mike DeSenne on Houselogic.com he talks about using your tax refund to save money and get a tax credit. If you want to invest a tax refund in your home this year, consider these five great projects that cost around $2,500

1. A tankless task – tankless water heaters

2. Think pink – insulation tips

3. No pane, no gain – window changing tips

4. Give your garage a facelift – garage door idea

5. Emergency power to the people – power tips

This article will give you great ideas for long term savings in and on your Charlotte area home.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Lake Wylie Waterfront Homes For Sale

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Lake Wylie , South Carolina is a vibrant and thriving community where geography, people and economic vitality have fashioned a distinctive Southern lifestyle. The leisure and excitement of lakeside living, our comfortable, small town atmosphere and convenient proximity to regional commercial and cultural centers make Lake Wylie the perfect setting to live and do business.

Lake Wylie homes for sale

Listings 1 - 13 of 13

13702 Sage Thrasher Lane -- 5 BR, 5.1 BA
Price: $5,000,000 (9757 sqft)
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Ivester Jackson | MLS # 4191491 | Active
18304 Rosapenny Road -- 5 BR, 6 BA
Price: $4,050,000 (6090 sqft)
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RE/MAX Executive | MLS # 4160960 | Active
207 Riverview Terrace -- 6 BR, 4.1 BA
Price: $2,550,000 (6936 sqft)
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Keller Williams | MLS # 4211224 | Active
17625 Grasshopper Lane -- 3 BR, 3.2 BA
Price: $2,250,000 (5411 sqft)
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Cottingham Chalk | MLS # 4157785 | Active
3032 Sadler Road -- 3 BR, 4.1 BA
Price: $2,000,000 (6860 sqft)
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COMPASS | MLS # 4174190 | Contract
13731 Petworth Court -- 4 BR, 4.1 BA
Price: $1,549,752 (4567 sqft)
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ProStead Realty | MLS # 4207857 | Active
6034 Jepson Court -- 5 BR, 3.1 BA
Price: $1,429,900 (4354 sqft)
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Ivester Jackson | MLS # 4174368 | Active
14022 Point Lookout Road -- 4 BR, 3.1 BA
Price: $1,300,000 (4107 sqft)
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10X Real Estate & | MLS # 4214952 | Active
16524 Here At Last Lane -- 4 BR, 3 BA
Price: $1,295,000 (3896 sqft)
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Keller Williams | MLS # 4199081 | Contract
8842 Lynn Parker Lane -- 4 BR, 4.1 BA
Price: $1,225,000 (3077 sqft)
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Carolinas Realty | MLS # 4103409 | Active
6018 Jepson Court -- 3 BR, 2 BA
Price: $1,145,252 (2204 sqft)
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BSI Builder Services | MLS # 3883463 | Contract
5752 Natoma Road -- 3 BR, 3.1 BA
Price: $1,100,000 (3330 sqft)
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EXP Realty LLC | MLS # 4200891 | Active
17718 Snug Harbor Road -- 4 BR, 2.1 BA
Price: $715,000 (2826 sqft)
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COMPASS | MLS # 4206937 | Active

The data relating to real estate on this Web site derive in part from the Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. IDX program. Brokers make an effort to deliver accurate information, but buyers should independently verify any information on which they will rely in a transaction. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither Savvy + Co. Real Estate nor any listing broker shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and they shall be held totally harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon this data. This data is provided exclusively for consumers -- personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties they may be interested in purchasing. © 2025 Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc.
Data updated January 19, 2025

How The Foreclosure Crisis Affects Your Charlotte Area Home

By admin

According to Lew Sichelman at  Houselogic the foreclosure crisis affects the value of your Charlotte Area home in numerous ways.

If you need one single reason to be glad Uncle Sam is helping your neighbors avoid losing their houses to foreclosure, look no further than the value of your own home. You are personally going to pay the price of your neighbors’ misfortune if the bank takes back their house.

Here are some startling statistics.

Each foreclosure within 660 feet (1/8th mile) of your house can drop your home’s value by a factor of almost 0.75%, according to the Center for Responsible Lending, a consumer watchdog group.

The closer a foreclosure is to your house, the bigger the impact. A university of Connecticut study suggests one foreclosure within 300 feet of your home will lower your property value by 1%.

If you live in a neighborhood with few vacant homes and a foreclosure occurs within 250 feet, a University of California, Berkeley study suggests you could lose 2.2% of your home value.

There are ways you can combat some of the problem with these homes bringing down the value of your home.

To limit foreclosure damage in your community, ask local officials to pass laws forcing lenders to maintain the properties they now own and to pay the taxes and homeowners association dues on them.

If the town isn’t forcing lenders to maintain a foreclosure in your neighborhood, organize a volunteer effort to cut and trim the shrubs at vacant houses on a round-robin basis, and report vandals or squatters to the police. A well-kept foreclosed home will attract more buyers than one with a weed-filled yard. Take trespassing laws into account as you organize your effort.

If you’re selling or refinancing and the appraiser uses foreclosures as comparable sales to determine the value of your property, ask your real estate agent to make sure the appraiser accounts for the distressed nature of those sales and the condition of the properties as they compare to yours. Ask your agent to seek out other comparable sales the appraiser might have missed, which show your home in a much better light

Read more: at Houselogic.com

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Charlotte Foreclosures For Sale

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Charlotte Foreclosures

Charlotte Foreclosure Statistics

As long as we have this many foreclosures for sale in the Charlotte Metro area, home sellers trying to get a fair price are going to struggle. We really need to reduct this inventory but there are projections that by the end of the year, this number will be higher. This does not include all the short sales that if history continues to repeat itself, these too will end up as bank owned properties.

If you want a personalized list of bank homed properties, click on the contact us link at the top of this site and let us know what you are looking for.

See a comprehensive list of Charlotte Foreclosures, visit Free Charlotte Foreclosures.

Be Sure To Budget Correctly for Your Charlotte Area Remodel

By admin

In the current real estate environment, many are thinking of ways to enhance their own home as property values are falling.  It is very important about what you add and how you budget for the addition.  While some improvements will enhance the value of your Charlotte area home, some will never return to you what put into it.  In this case, make sure you are doing it for reasons beyond adding value.  In this case, make sure it is for your enjoyment first and foremost.

For those looking to add an addition to their Charlotte area home, the National Association of Realtors, has created a fantastic site for you to gather more information and do research.  At Carolina Living Real Estate, we strive to provide our clients with the best information possible to help them make good decisions concerning their real estate investments.

The website we are referring to is Houselogic.com.   We have found a great article with 4 steps to Budget Your Charlotte Area Remodel By: Oliver Marks.

Want to read more…?  Check out Five Bad Home Improvement Ideas

Check out the article and if you have questions about what will and will not enhance the value of your home, please contact your Carolina Living Agent.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Charlotte Area Homeowners – Beware The Homeowners Insurance Claim

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Homeowners Insurance: To Claim or Not to Claim?

According to the National Association of Realtors website (www.Houselogic.com), not all homeowners insurance claims should be filed.

You pay for homeowners insurance to protect yourself from financial ruin, yet filing a claim when disaster does strike puts you at risk of seeing your annual premiums increase by hundreds of dollars.

Here are some of the topics covered in the article”

Be mindful of deductibles, liability

Some claims are worth skipping

Dealing with denial of your claim

Read the entire article

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The Best Of Carolina Living Real Estate

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Carolina Living Has Never Been Better

The Charlotte area continues to be one of the most sought after areas to live in the Southeast. From job opportunities to great real estate investments, our area is continues to show strong growth.

Whether looking for a rental or a great deal on a home to buy, the Charlotte are has it all.

Here is a list of very informative websites created by Carolina Living Agents assisting you in finding the home you need.

Lake Norman Communities

Find Charlotte Homes For Sale

Gaston and Lincoln County Real Estate

Mooresville Area Real Estate

Charlotte Property Management and Rentals